GOD has answered the prayers of millions of Filipino supporters of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who saw from the beginning the unjust spirit of the Aquino Administration in having her arrested and falsely charged.

The Supreme Court en banc has acquitted the former President and now Pampanga Representative of the crime of plunder, with which she was falsely charged by former President BS Aquino and his prosecutors for allegedly having embezzled P366 million of the intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) from 2008 to 2010.

She has always proclaimed her innocence. Evidence has proved her to be true and the charges unjust and false.

Mrs. Arroyo was at first treated crudely like a common criminal by BS Aquino’s Justice Department people. And she fell progressively sicker of a life-threatening condition. Public opinion and the court had to force then Justice Secretary, now Senator, Leila de Lima to agree to have her placed under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City.

Suffering from her illness but making sure that she would not just be oppressed as a helpless ordinary citizen, Mrs. Arroyo and her family and friends made sure she still held an official position that ought to guarantee her a level of respect. She ran for congressman representing her home district in Pampanga province and won by landslides.

One by one several of the many plunder charges filed against her were dismissed by the court for being baseless. Needing more thorough and expert medical attention abroad, Mrs. Arroyo sought to be granted bail for medical reasons and be allowed to go abroad while solemnly promising to come back and face trial. The prosecuting authority, the Ombudsman, ceaselessly blocked her petitions until the Sandiganyan First Division made a ruling denying her petition for bail.

In October 2015 Mrs. Arroyo filed a petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court asking for the reversal of the Sandiganbayan First Division’s rulings denying her petition for bail. She had as well filed a petition for demurrer to evidence, seeking the dismissal of the case against her because the prosecution had been presenting nothing but weak and insubstantial evidence to prove their case.

After the former President filed her petition for certiorari, the Supreme Court ordered the Sandiganbayan to temporarily halt the trial until the petition was resolved.

Experts had observed that the Aquino regime was doing everything it could to find Mrs. Arroyo guilty but the charges simply could not stick because she has always been truly innocent.

All told she has been incarcerated for six years. With the Supreme Court decision acquitting her, she should be given her freedom soonest.

We pray for her eventual full recovery and continued well being, so this uniquely talented woman, a person of wisdom and priceless experience, may continue to actively contribute to the betterment of our country and people...

no need for karma..PNOY has suffer enough

_________________Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others He who envies others does not achieve peace. - Buddha

(UPDATED) Former president Gloria Arroyo is released from hospital arrest two days after the Supreme Court cleared her of plunderMara Cepeda

ACQUITTED. With her acquittal, former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo can now fully perform her duties as Pampanga 2nd District Representative. File photo by Rolex dela Pena/EPA

ACQUITTED. With her acquittal, former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo can now fully perform her duties as Pampanga 2nd District Representative. File photo by Rolex dela Pena/EPA

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – After nearly 4 years under hospital arrest, former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo finally walked away from her plunder charge.

The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan issued her release order from the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) Thursday afternoon, July 21. The order was brought to Camp Crame, and members of the Philippine National Police executed her release past 6 pm.

This was two days after the Supreme Court (SC), voting 11-4, acquitted Arroyo and former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board member Benjamin Aguas of plunder over their alleged misuse of P366 million in PCSO funds from 2008 to 2010.

"She felt really happy and really relieved," Laurence Arroyo, Arroyo’s legal counsel, said in an interview after his client's release.

The lawyer said that, in his view, it might have felt like a "dream" on the part of Arroyo "that finally, she was leaving her place of detention for the past 4 years."

Asked whether Arroyo plans to file cases against former president Benigno Aquino III for alleged political persecution, the lawyer said: "Let's not discuss that at this time. This is supposed to be a happy moment. We're full of gratitude and we're supposed to be magnanimous.... It's a blessing that she has been acquitted and we'd like to focus on that."

Arroyo's children – sons Mikey and Dato, and daughter Luli – and some former Cabinet members, such as former justice secretary Agnes Devanadera and former presidential assistant for special concerns Medy Poblador, were with Arroyo as she awaited her release.

Former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo was abroad with their grandchildren for a “long scheduled” trip and is due back on July 27, the lawyer said in an interview on ANC.

He also said that after going back to her La Vista residence and spending a few hours there, the former president was due to have an overnight executive check-up at Saint Luke’s Medical Center, most likely in the branch at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

Arroyo, who suffers from multiple cervical spondolysis or the wearing off of the bones, has been detained at the VMMC since 2012. Aguas had long been out on bail. (READ: Lawmakers react to SC ruling on Gloria Arroyo case)

Eight of the 11 justices who ruled in their favor are Arroyo appointees.

Arroyo, however, had to stay for two more days at the VMMC – where she had been detained since October 2012 – because the SC failed to issue its decision to the Sandiganbayan before closing time on Tuesday.

Her camp said the SC ruling was proof of Arroyo's "political persection" by former President Benigno Aquino III, a view shared by former president Joseph Estrada.

Hours before Arroyo's release, Aquino expressed dismay over the decision, which was promulgated barely a month after he left Malacañang. (READ: Aquino hits SC: What option is left for Filipinos vs corruption?)

Arroyo was acquitted a week before the opening of the 17th Congress, where she is serving a third term as Pampanga 2nd District Representive. (READ: TIMELINE: Gloria Arroyo – from plunder to acquittal)

She is expected the attend the first State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo Duterte, whom Arroyo thanked for ensuring due process for her case. Duterte had earlier said that during the campaign, he told Arroyo through a phone conversation that he would pardon her but the former president refused, saying this would require an admission of guilt.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, who charged Arroyo for plunder 4 years ago, said her office plans to file a motion for reconsideration before the High Court.

The Ombudsman is still investigating Arroyo on another plunder complaint concerning P57 million in PCSO intelligence funds from 2004 to 2007.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Associate Justice Marvic Leonen dissented from the majority opinion on the plunder case against Arroyo, and asserted conspiracy was established by the prosecution.

Senate President Franklin Drilon said in a news briefing hours before Arroyo's release that the "missing link" in the case against Arroyo is former PCSO general manager Rosario Uriarte, whose location remains unknown. – Rappler.com

_________________Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others He who envies others does not achieve peace. - Buddha

After four years of hospital arrest, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo left the Veterans Memorial Medical Center, Lia Mañalac Del Castillo reported on "24 Oras."

Arroyo was released from hospital detention early Thursday evening, some two days after the Supreme Court dismissed her plunder case due to insufficient evidence.

It was around 2 p.m. when Arroyo learned that the SC has handed down copies of its decision for the Sandiganbayan First Division to order her release from detention.

The First Division of the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan earlier Thursday issued a minute resolution directing the Philippine National Police (PNP) to immediately free the former President from her hospital detention.

The anti-graft court’s issuance reiterated the SC ruling dismissing the plunder case against Mrs. Arroyo which has been pending with the Sandiganbayan First Division since 2012.

“The Court notes the Supreme Court Decision in (Arroyo vs. People and Sandiganbayan) and (Aguas vs Sandiganbayan)," the First Division's resolution read.

"In view thereof, accused Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Benigno Aguas are hereby ordered released from detention immediately, unless they are being held in custody for other reasons not related to this case,” it added.

Aguas is currently detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame in Quezon City.

The First Division issued the resolution shortly after a process server from SC arrived at the Sandiganbayan Thursday afternoon to furnish the anti-graft court with a copy of the high court’s promulgated decision.

The tribunal directed the Sheriff and Security Services Office to deliver copies of the resolution to the VMMC, the PNP national headquarters, the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNOP-CIDG), the PNP Police Security Protection Group (PNP-PSPG) who has the custody of Mrs. Arroyo and the PNP Custodial Center who has the custody of Aguas. —KBK/NB, GMA News

_________________Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others He who envies others does not achieve peace. - Buddha

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